Wire-joining tool



B. J. DAVIDSON May 1, 1923.

WIRE JOIN-ING TOOL Filed June 30, 1919 3 Shgets-Sheet 2 May 1, 1923. 1,453,446

B. J. DAVIDSON WIRE JOINING TOOL Filed June 50, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Snow/W62? v Patented May 1, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRUCE J. DAVIDSON. NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T WIREBOUNDS PATENTS COMPANY, OF KITTERY, MAINE, A. CORPORATION OF MAINE.

WIRE-JOINING. TOOL.

Application filed June 30, 1919. Serial No. 307,749.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BRUCE J. DAVIDSON,

a citizen of the United States, and a 'resident of New York, county of New York, and State of New York (whose ost-oilice address is #19 \V'est- 44th Street. 1 ew York city). have invented an Improvement in \Vire-Joining Tools, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to wireworking and to inethods of and tools for use in joining wires, wire bindings, or wire ties on or about boxes, box parts, bales. bundles, packages or the like. I

Among other objects the invention has in view the production of a strong efiicient joint, and one in which the wire ends are free of objectionable sharp edges or points; the making of a desired twist independently of judgment of the operative. practically eliminating chances of improper or imperfect twisting or of overstraining or rupturing the wire: and the making of substantially uniform joints on different boxes or pack-ages, thus introducing a desirable standardization in the practice of joining box wires.

The invention will be clearly understood from the following description with reference to one illustrative method and one illustrative tool containing an embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

A simple formof hand tool is selected for illustration, it being understood however that the invention is not limited to the specific illustrative form nor to a hand tool.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the illustrative tool.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the tool turned on its long axis at right angles to the position shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the twister head.

Figure 4 shows the butt end of the tool 50 handle.

' head.

Figure 5 is a cross section of the twister Figures 6, 7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional views of the twister head, representing different stages of the twisting or joint-6 forming operation.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a corner portion of an ordinary wirebound box, the wires or wire ends on the lid and front side of which are to be tensionally joined to complete the continuity of the wire binding and hold the lid firmly closed.

Figures 10, 11. 12 and 13 are perspective views illustrating the use of'the illustrative tool in joining the said wire ends.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the box corner after the production of the joint made by intertwisting the wire ends.

Figure 15 shows the manner of hammering down the twist with the illustrative tool.

The illustrative tool comprises a twisting head 3 carried by a shank 2 from a handle 1 for turning the tool. The twisting head is bored at 4 to receive the two strands to be intertwisted, and is provided with coopcrating wire-grasping members 5 adapted to grip the wires transversely andso proportioned and designed with reference to the resistance and strain to be developed by the intended twist as to perform a wiresevering action upon the completio'n of such twist. In this instance said members take the form of hard steel pins fixed at oppo-' site sides of the bore a distance fully as great as or greater than the diameter of the wire. but substantially less than twice such distance, so as to grip the wires by a clutching action as the tool is turned and crowd them against each other.

In the use of the tool for joining, for instance, the ends of awire binding or tie about a box, the end portions of the wire vare brought together and bent out from the box in approximate parallelism, as shown for example in Figures 9 and'12; the twister head is then slipped over the wire ends, held against the box side, thus loeating the gripping pins in reference thereto. and rotated a number of times to intertwist the wires between the. box and gripping pins; and when the twist for which the tool is designed is completed, that is, when the tightening of its convolutions develops a certain degree of resistance against further twisting action, the continued rotation of the tool will cause the pins to disrupt or distort the metal of the wires and sever the terminal of the twist. thus automatically disengaging the tool from the wire.

The severing may result from a combined squeezing. tearing. wrenching. shearingand swaging. or. according to particular designs of different specific tools embodying features of this invention. it may depend mainly upon one or, more such factors. Apparently the butt end of the twist functions as an anvil against which the wires are swaged by the pins.

If properly designed the tool will sever or shear off the butt of the twist with a substantially blunt end. leaving little or no burr and no sharp edge or point such as might scratch or cut the hands of operatives or of persons subsequently handling the box.

An advantage in the specific type of gripping members described is that. when the twist develops a certain resistance and the severing action begins. the strands are jammed together. each serving as an anvil for the other. and the severing action is torsional and opposite upon the two strands. as distinguished from a direct shearing of the individual wires. This importantly contributes to producing the severing action at the proper time and before. any part of the wire at the opposite end of or in the twist can be stretched unduly or to the breaking point, as well as to producing the desired blunt end.

Additional factors contributing to this result. as well as to prevention of premature severing. are the spacing and the form and size of the gripping members. since if the wire-gripping surfaces are too narrow or sharp they might prematurely cut and sever the wires. or if too wide or blunt might delay the severing action until breakage should occur elsewhere. Hence in designing tools for different classes of work the wire-gripping members should be proportioned and designed to insure the proper action. having reference to the size and quality of wire. extent of twist and degree of tension desired to be developed before the severing occurs.

For joining. for example. the ends of ordinary wirebound box binding wires of No. 14 gauge. it has been found desirable to employ straight round pins slightly larger than the wire (e. g. pins of 0.09375 diameter where the diameter of the wire is 0.080") and spaced apart a distance ten per cent greater than the diameter of the wire, which distance will of course increase by wear as the tool is repeatedly used. A. tool so designed for operating upon No. 14: gauge.

wire may however be'used for joining wires of other gauges within certain limits.

The distance between the wire-gripping members being constant during the action of the tool, their grip or pressure on the wires is accordingly steady. and tendency to premature severing by exerting a sudden in.- creased grip is thus eliminated.

In the illustrative type of tool, the twister pins 5 are placed a distance from the receiving end of the twister head according to the desired length of twist to be produced, so that the head. performing the function of a gauge, positions the pins with reference to the box side and holds them in such position during the twisting operation. Consequently the twist pulls the wire oppositely fromthe box and the gripping pins, resulting in a beneficial and proper tensioning of the box binding and causing a gradually increasing strain on the wire at the gripping point which further importantly contributes to insurance of the severing action in advance of rupture or breakage in or beyond the twist.

Usually the drawing of'the wire for the convolutions of the twist will be from around the box and between the box and gripping pins, though after the wire becomes substantially taut on the box it may be drawn between the gripping pins, the latter permitting such longitudinal slippage, and tools embodying the invention may be designed with a view to drawing the wire principally or entirely from behind the pins, as, for ex ample. where the box binding or tie wire is to be initially tensioned around the box before twisting. However with the illustrative type of tool such longitudinal slippage of the wire will not occur. at least to any considerable extent, so long as the wire caii be further tightened about the box.

A further function of the illustrative tool is performed bytlie apertured end of the twister head or mouth of the bore 4, which encloses and holds the wires at the box so that they cannot wind one about the other: the gripping pins andmouth of the tool functioning as a plurality of wire-engaging means spaced apart a. distance approximately equal to a desired twist. l/Vith the wiresso held, the formation of the twist, instead of proceeding from the gripping pms toward the box, or from the box toward the gripping pins. takes place uniformly along the entire length of wire between the box and gripping pins. and in each turn of the tool th wires tension uniformly, re-

sulting in each convolution of the twist being uniformly tensioned and the avoidan e of extra tension where the twist joins the body wires.

In joining binding wires around boxes by ordinary twisting methods. the twist forms progressively from the tool toward the box or vice versa, each turn of the twist drawing in wire for that particular turn and getting an independent tension. If the twist proceeds toward the box, the tightening of the wires draws in the tool, losing a certain tensioning advantage, and the convolutions of the twist increase in tension toward the box, the joint being therefore weakest at the box end. If, on the otherhand, the twist proceeds from the box; the tension. of the binding is practically established by the first turn, losing the advantage of continued tensioning, and the strain is still greatest at the box.

The superiority of the twisting, method herein disclosed and the product of that method, from the standpoint of safety and avoidance of rupture by the twisting operation, and the obtaining of a strong, efiicient joint, not to mention the blunt severing of the terminal and advantages in manipulation, willthus be evident.

To prevent any tendency of buckling of the twist after its completion, and to insure the severing of the terminal by the continued rotation of the tool, it is desirable to confine the wires between the box and the gripping pins within a space slightly larger than the (ompleted coil or twist. This is accomplished in the illustrative tool by the employment of abored or barrel type of twister head within which the twist forms.

It will be noted that the barrel also extends a distance behind the gripping pins, which assists in holding the wires in position for concurrent opposition to the severing action of the gripping pins, contributing to insurance of the simultaneous severing of both strands.

As before indicated, the tool is designed to sever the butt or tip of the twist upon the development of a given resistance to furthertwisting action. preferably when the convolutions close tightly together and completely fill the space between the box and the gripping pins. Obviously the gauging length of the twist or head; i.;e.,-the distance of the pins from the end of the barrel, determine the number of convolutions and the length of'the twist, assuming the tautness of the wire on the box to be. approximately suitable to requirements{ so that in applying the invention to joining wires on boxes having the wires applied with substan tial uniformity, as in the case of ordinary wirebound boxes, or in the case of joining box ties which are brought to a predetermined tension before twisting. the joints on a multitude of such boxes may be made substantially uniformly and correctly without dependence upon judgment of the operative.

Ordinarily, notwithstanding variations in the tautness of the wire on or around the box, the. tool will produce a determined tention upon the development of a given number of wire convolutions of a certain pitch.

F or use in joining No. let gauge binding wires of wirebound boxes, which wires are stapled around the box in a comparatively taut state, it has been found desirable to locate the pins about from the box end of the twister head, this distance having been selected partly with reference to the taut state of the wires and also with a view to obtaininga short but amply eflicient twist.

For convenience in using the illustrative tool to shape the wires for the joining operation, the twister head is provided at the end which goes against the box with top and bottom notches 6 and 7 for a purpose which will presently appear. To facilitate the turning of th tool without obstruction by the wires on the box body, the 'end is rounded off at the four corners as indicated at 8.

The manner of handling the tool is illustrated in Figures 9 to 15.

In these figures, a. designates a wirebound I box having a wire binding 6 secured thereabout by staples 0; the portions of said wire binding on adjacent separably related box sides or sections, e. g. the lid and front. having free end portions 6 and b which are to be tensionally connected to complete the continuity ofthe binding and tightly close the lid.

As indicated in Fig. 10, the operator first said wire. With the tool in thisposition,

and grasping the lid wire as shown, he de presses the tool and forces it against the box, to the position shown in Fig. 11. Thus the lid wire is given a double right angle bend as shown in Fig. 12; that is, it is bent down over the box side and out from the latter. I

The operator then places the tool in the position shown in Fig. 12. holding it against the side wire b just below the projecting end of the wire I), and bends the end of the wire 6 over the notch 6, so that the two wires project from. adjacent points of the box in approximate parallelism.

The barrel is then slipped over the two wire ends, held against the box as shown in Fig. 13, and revolved by turning the handle to intertwist the wires. and when the twist is completed the wire is automatically wrung oil at the tip of the twist as before indicated. leaving a blunt tipped twist as shown in Fig. 14: and the twist may then be hannnered down against the box side. using the butt of the handle for that purpose.

To facilitate hammering down the twist. the handle of the tool. it' of wood. is desirably provided with ametal butt 9.

Obviously the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described but features of the invention are susceptible of embodiment in various devices and may be advantageously used in various combinations and sub-combinations.

v I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A tOOl f01 use in joining package wires by inter-twisting. comprising a plurality of wire engaging meansspaced apart a distance approximately equal to a desired length of twist and adapted to re eive side by side the wires to be twisted. at least one such means arranged to be rotated relatively to the wire to produce the twist.

Q. A tool for use in joining package wires by intertwisting. comprising a plurality of wire engaging means spaced apart a distance approximately the length of a desired twist. and adapted for receiving wire in-- serted between them and intertwisting portions thereof throughout such length. one such means designed to perform a wire-severing actionupon completion of the desired twist.

3. A tool for joining package wires by in tertwisting. comprising wire gripping means to receive the wire end portions and by rotation to intertwist them. and means iansing the production of the twist to tension the wire against the gripping means, said tensioning and gripping means cooperating to cause a wire-severingoperation upon development of a determined twisting resistance.

4. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting their end portions. comprising a rotatable twist-forming device and gauging means automatically discontinuing the twist upon production of pre-determined resistance.

A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting their ends. comprising wire; gripping means rotatable t'or twisting said ends. and gauging means positioning said gripping means. said gripping and gauging means cooperating to produce a determined twist and sever its tip.

(3. A tool for joining package wires by forming their ends into an intertwisted projection. comprising a twist forming device and means causing said twist forming device automatically to sever the tip of the completed twist.

7. A tool for joining package Wires comprising rotatable means to grip and inter twist the wire ends projected in the same direction from the package, and means holding the gripping means at a determined distance from the package during the twisting operation, whereby the tightening of the twist tensions the wire oppositely from the package and gripping means.

8. Atool for joining package wires by twisting, comprising rotatable wire gripping. means to produce the twist, and means positioning the Wires and holding them from winding one about the other at a distance trom'said gripping means. whereby the twist forms evenly throughout the distance between the grippin and positioning means and with each turn or convolution of the twist unifprmly tensioned.

9. A twisting tool rotatable on a pair of wire strands as an axis, adapted to intertwist said strands and sever them at the ends of the twist. said tool having members cooperating to grip said strands and hold them in close relationship. said members having narrow gripping surfaces of insuflicient extent to turn the wires aga nst a predetermined resistance developed by the twist and adapted when such resistance develops to bite into and sever the strands at the terminal of the twist.

10. A tool adapted to intertwist wire strands and sever them at the end of the twist, comprising cooperating wire-gripping members rotatable for intertwisting said strands, said members having narrow wire-engaging surfaces, spaced a constant distance apart in the action of the tool.

11. A tool for use in joining package wires by forming their ends into an intertwisted projection and severing the end thereof. comprising a twist forming device and means cooperating therewith to cause sa d twist forming device to tension the wire and sever the ends thereof.

12. A tool for use in joining a package wire. comprising means to engage with a constant grip the wire ends at a point fixed from the body of the package. and meansdetermining" the point of gripping relative to the pack-age, whereby when the tool is revolved the wires will twist between the body of the package and the pointof engagement and be severed at said point.

13. A tool for joining package wires,comprising means to engage the wire end portions and by revolving twist them together and sever the strands at the end of the twist. and gauging means automatically to control the length of the twist and, the point of severing.

14:. A tool for joining package wires. comprising means to engage the wire end portions and by rotation to twist them together and tension the binding about the package. and means automaticaliy to control the degree of tension.

15. In a tool for use in twisting the end strands of a package encircling wire binding, means to gauge the length of said twist, and means to twist and automatically to sever the strands at the end of said twist.

16. A tool for use in joining wires by intertwisting, comprising twisting means to embrace the wires, and cooperating means to cause the twist to form gradually and evenly along a length of the wires.

17. A tool for use in JOlIIlIIg wires by intertwisting, comprising twisting means to embrace the wires, and means determining the formation of the twist, said twisting means adapted for and controlled by said last named means to perform a wire-severing action upon completion of a determined twist.

18. A tool for use in joining wires by intertwisting, comprising twisting means to embrace the wires, and means causing the twist in forming to exact an increasing pull against the twisting means, said means cooperating to cause a wire-severing action at the end of the twist.

19. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting, comprising wire-gripping means to receive the wire end portions and, by rotation, to inter-twist them; and package engaging means-causing the production of th twist to tension the wire about the pack- 20. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting, comprising wire-gripping means to receive the wire end portions and, by rotation, to intertwist them; and means to position the gripping means a predetermined distance from the package whereby the production of the twist will tension the wire about the package.

21. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting, comprising wire-gripping means to receive the wire endportions and, by rotation, to intertwist them; and means to position the gripping means a predetermined distance from the package whereby the production of the twist will tension the wire about the package in accordance with the position of the gripping means relative to the package.

22. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting, comprising wire-gripping means to receive the wire end portions and, by rotation, to intertwist them; and means to position said gripping means a predetermined distance from the package.

23. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting, comprising wire-gripping means to receive the wire and portions and.

by rotation, to intertwist them; and means to position said ripping means a predetermined distance rom the package whereby the length of twist is determined.

24. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting, comprising wire-gripping means to receive the wire end portions and, by rotation, to intertwist them; and means engaging the package to position thegripping means relative to the package.

25. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting, comprising wire-gripping means to receive the Wire end portions and, by rotation, to intertwist them; and means engaging the package to position the gripping means relative to the package whereby the length of twist is determined.

26. A tool for joining package wires by intirtwisting, comprising wire-gripping, means to receive the wire end portions and, by rotation, to intertwist and sever them; and means to position the gripping means relative to the package during a twisting operation whereby a determined length of twist is produced.

27. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting, comprising wire-gripping means to receive the wire end portions and, by rotation, to intertwist them; and means to position said gripping means relative to the package; said gripping and positioning means co-operating to sever the tip of the completed twist.

28. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting, comprising wire-gripping means to receive the wire end portions and, by rotation, to'intertwist them; and means to position the gripping means relative to the package said gripping and positioning means co-operating to tension the wire about the package and sever the wire ends.

29. A tool for joining package wires comprising rotatable means to grip and intertwist wire ends projecting from a package; and means holding the gripping means a predetermined distance from the package during the twisting operation.

30. A tool for joining package wires comprising rotatable means to grip and intertwist wire ends projecting from a package; and means holding the gripping means a pre-determined distance from the package during the twisting operation whereby the tightening of the twist tensions the wire about the package and severs it a predetermined distance from the package.

' 31. A tool for joining package wires comprising rotatable means to' grip and inter twist wire ends projecting from a package; and means holding the gripping means a predetermined distance from the package durin the twisting operation whereby the tig tening of the twist tensions the wire about the package and the degree of tension is determined.

32. A tool for joining package wires comprising rotatable means to grip and intertwist wire ends projecting from a package; and means hoiding the gripping means a predetemnined distance from the package during the twisting operation whereby the Edit tightening of the twist tensions the wire about the package and the tip of the completed twist is wrung o3.

A tool for joining package wires comprising rotatable means to grip and intertwist wire ends projecting iirom a package; and package engaging means holding the gripping means a distance from the package during the twisting operation whereby rotation of the rotatable means will sever the wire upon completion of the twist.

34. A tool for joining package wires comprising rotatable means to grip and intertwist wire ends projecting from a package; and package engaging means holding the gripping means a distance from the package during the twisting operation whereby rotation of the rotatable means will intert-wist the wire ends between the package and the point where gripped and will sever the tip of the completed twist.

A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting, comprising wire gripping means; to receive the wires and by rotation to intertwist them; and means to position said gripping means relative to the package; said gripping and positioning means co-operating to sever the wires when a predetermined length of twist has been completed. 36. A tool for joining package wires by mtertwistmg, comprising wire gripping means to receive the wires and by rotation to intertwist them; and means to osition said gripping means relative to tie package; said gripping and positioning means co-opcrating to sever the wires :1 distance from the package upon completion of a twist.

3-7. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting their' ends, comprising wire gripping means rotatable for twisting said ends, and gauging means positioning said gripping means said gripping and gauging means cooperating to produce a determined twist and sever it a distance from the pack-.

7 ing comprising wire gripping means adapt masses ed to receive the wires to be joined and by rotation to intertwist them and means causing the gripping means to sever the wires at a predetermined distance from the package in advance of rupture or breakage in the twist or wires elsewhere than at the point of severance.

40. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting comprising gripping members to receive and grip the wires, and means to position the gripping members a predetermined distance from the package during the operation of the tool whereby rotation of the gripping members will produce a twist of predetermined length and sever the tip of the twist in such a manner as to leave the same free or objectionable sharp edges or burrs.

il. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting comprising gripping members to receive and grip the wires a distance from the package; and means to engage the wires and hold them side by side adjacent the package whereby rotation of the gripping members will cause the wires to intertwist evenly with each convolution of the twist uniformly tensioned.

42.. A tool for joining package wires by int-ertwisting comprising gripping members to receive and grip the wires a distance from the package and by rotation to intertwist them, and means to engage the wires and hold them side by side adjacent the package, said wire-gripping members and said wireengaging means being spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the length of a desired twist.

43. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting comprising gripping members to receive and grip the wires a distance from the package and by rotation to intertwist them, and means to engage the wires adjacent the package and hold them side by side.

44. A tool for joining package wires by intertwisting comprising gripping members to receive the wires a distance from the package and by rotation to grip and intertwist them, means to position the gripping members relative to the package, and means to engage the wires adjacent the package.

In testimony whereof, it have signed my name to this specification.

nancn a. DAVIDSON. 

